Hernial truss.



No. 693,606. Patented Feb. la, |902.

A. HUNTER.

HERNIAL TRUS'S.

(Application led Feb. 18, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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llrvrrnn Strane ATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW HUNTER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

HERNIAL TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part pf Letters Patent No. 693,606, dated February 18, 1902.

Application filed February 18, 1901. Serial No. 47,754. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern.-

Beit known that I, ANDREW HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hernia-Trusses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements made in trusses for the cure or relief of hernia; and the improvements include certain novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view representing my improved truss secured in position on the body. Fig. 2 is a front view, on an enlarged scale, of the supporting-belt and parts that hold the pad in place. Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through c Fig. 2, showing the construction ot' the pad. Fig. is a perspective View of the padholding and pressure-regulating plate.

The principal parts or members of my improved pad are distinguished in the following description as the waist-belt, composed of the strap a and back strap o, the pressureregulating plate c, the lever CZ, thigh-strap e, and pad f.

The front strap is of peculiar shape in being cut on curved lines, as illustrated in Fig. 2, that carry the ends a in an upward curve above the depressed middle a2 at an angle corresponding to the slope or angular position required from the point of application of the pad upward to the waist-line, where the belt passes over the hips. This front portion of the belt is preferably made of leatherhaving sufficient stiffness to retain its shape or form under the strains to which it is subjected. One of its upwardly-curved ends is permanently attached to the back strap b by several rows of stitches, and its other end is provided with a buckle f, through which is passed a narrow strap 7i, attached to the end of the back belt on that side.

To the back of the downwardly-curved middle part of the front strap is secured a curved plate c, of sheet metal, having a central hole fora screw t', by which it is fastened to the back of the pad. This plate is best formed of sheet metal having a certain elastic or springing quality and also sufficient stiffness to retain the proper degree of curvature against the strain or pulling force of the belt required to hold the pad in place. The strap is laid against the convex' back of the plate and is fastened by rivets 7c at the four corners, the plate being preferably of rectangular shape and approximately of the same width as the strap. The pad is fixed to the convex back of the plate bythe screw, which is located in the center of the plate on the line of greatest curvature where the strap is confined between the plate and the pad; but at all other parts the strap is held out by the plate from contact with the sides or ends of the pad.

The thigh-strap e is attached to the plate c by a metallic loop don the end of an angular bar CW, and the latter is secured to the plate on the middle line in a permanent manner,

so as to stand at right angles to the front of the plate and throw the point of attachment of the thigh-strap a greater or less distance in front or beyond the plate c, according to the amount of leverage that the downward pull of the thigh-strap may be required to exert on the pad. The function of this connecting bar or loop is to produce and maintain an upward pressure of the pad at the same time that the waist-belt applies a constant pressure of the pad inward against the body.

In fitting the truss to the rupture the pressure inward and upward is regulated and adjusted by tightening the thigh-strap and the waist strap or belt, and the inward pressure and upward lifting pressure are combined in the proper direction and to the required de gree to reduce the rupture with the least discomfort to the wearer.

The pad provided in this truss is of peculiar construction in being formed of a hollow infiated elastic shell or body fixed on a solid and inflexible backing m, of wood, to which the straps are attached by the metal plate and lever bar or loop, as before described. The body of this pad is formed of soft rubber molded to shape and cemented or otherwise secured to the wooden back fm, a hole being tapped in the center of the back to receive the fastening-screw z'. The acting side or front face f' of the pad is shaped to present a hernispherical or rounded surface somewhat higher at the center or the portion that is intended to lie against the rupture, while the back or base is flattened to lie against the fiat backing m. An aperture p and passage p through the backing and the base of the pad are provided for infiating the pad to the extent or degree necessary to give it the desired hardness or yielding quality. This aperture is closed to retain the body of air after the inflating operation.

As thus constructed and combined the novel parts or features hereinbefore described act or operate jointly to maintain a firm and constant pressure both inwardly and upwardly, the direction and degree whereof are capableot' ready adjustment through the rnedium of the two straps and the metal parts that connect them to the pad. The curved plate of the last'mentioned parts operates to hold the front strap away from the body in the immediate vicinity of the pad and prevents the front strap from pressing upon the cords and blood-vessels Where the rupture is located low down. This plate by virtue of its curved shape also holds the strap away from the edges of the pad and confines the forces of pressure directly to the middle of the pad. The angular loop or bar likewise serves to keep the thigh-strap from contact with the body near the point of rupture.

In some cases it will be found an advantage to cut away the lower edge of the inelastic front strap on inwardly-curved lines,as shown in Fig. 2, to prevent the bottom edge from pressing against the body.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, :is-

1. The herein-described truss, comprising a waist-belt formed of an inelastic front strap and an elastic back strap, the front strap having a depressed middle portion and upwardly-curved ends; the convex plate secured to the front strap, and securing the strap to the pad, an angular loop standing perpendicularly out from the curved plate, and a thighstrap attached thereto, and a pad attached to the convex back of the curved plate on the center line thereof.

2. In a truss for the relief of hernia, a waistbelt consisting of an inelastic front strap and an elastic back strap, a curved plate having the front strap attached thereto and the angular loop projecting perpendicularly from the concaved face of the curved plate and a thigh-strap attached to said loop in combination with a pad having a rounded or convex bearing-face and a at back, and a fastening rigidly securing the curved plate to the flat back.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

ANDREW HUNTER. [L. s]

Vitnesses:

EDWARD E. OsBoRN, M. REGNER. 

